Leaving a Legacy

Today Mike and I went to another funeral. It reminds me that there is a 100% mortality rate.

What has been on my mind? Death, eternal life and leaving a legacy.

It kind of seems sad, but that is life--and death. We are not guaranteed our next moment.

Psalm 90:12 "Teach us to number our days and recognize how few they are; help us to spend them as we should." (TLB)

How should our days be spent? Glorifying God even in the mundane and ordinary.

What kind of legacy do I want to leave for Lisa and Katie? For our family? For our friends?

Not one of insecurity and co-dependency, but rather of a contagious love for God. A zeal and love for life and for the Giver of life, not love for the worldly things of life. To cherish the people in my life and to enjoy and share what God has blessed us with.

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It is with deep sadness that I write this evening.

Yesterday, June 15, a woman who loved God with her entire being, went to meet Him face to face.
A woman who loved to talk about God, learn about Him, teach about Him. She loved her family just as much. Her spirit was contagious.
Mike and I got to know Scarlet in our small group. I also got to get a hug from her every Tuesday at BSF, where she would teach the older kids. I don't know how it will be to walk those halls in the fall and her not to be there.
Scarlet leaves behind her husband Matt, her two young children and a newborn baby.
When we should be planning a meal to help the family in the joyous celebration of a new baby, we are instead wondering what to do for Matt and the children.

Why does God choose to take a woman who loves Him with her whole heart, someone who loves her husband with her whole heart, someone who is raising her children to love and honor God, someone who could do so much to advance His kingdom?

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. Isaiah 55:8-9

I was there at the hospital on Monday morning. My "new" home in my job. I didn't want to start in the ICU because that is where I feel the most comfortable. I deliberately walked past and decided to start on another floor. Something (the Holy Spirit I now know) in me made me turn around and go to ICU. I passed this man in the hall facing the wall and crying very hard. My heart went out to him because he looked young. He was alone. Maybe he has a parent in ICU not doing very well. "Lord, comfort this man" I prayed in my mind. I started my job and noticed a name I know very well. All of the sudden I knew the man. I rushed into her room and saw they were about to intubate her. She looked critical. I rushed out to Matt, he was on the phone, crying. I went back in and stayed with Scarlet during her intubation and held her hand and prayed. I wish I had a Bible verse to pray in her ear while she was still conscious. But all I could do was hold her hand and ask God to heal her. "God, please perform a miracle, she has 2 young children and a newborn. Her family needs her." I went back out to sit with Matt while we waited for John K. from church to show up and their family to arrive. He told me about the delivery in the parking lot, the uterine tear and the surgery. I would go back and forth to check on Scarlet and let Matt know they were still working on her, placing arterial lines and central lines and doing things to stabilize her. In my heart I knew it was really bad, but My God can perform miracles.

The day wore on and Scarlet did not get better as the world defines better. She got better as God defines better.

Maybe the miracle is heaven.

Fun Run

We met Melody at McAllister Park to do the Fun Run.
It was a kids sprint, 1/2 mile, 1 mile and 3 mile run.


Melody and Sandy, waiting to get started.


Mike finished the kids 100 yard sprint in 1st place!! Kidding-he took the girls to the starting line and ran back before they started.


Lisa only knows one speed-fast. We have to learn to pace ourselves.



Katie does not get the same feeling for running as Lisa. She did run the dash, 1/2 mile and 1 mile, very reluctantly, but she finished it.

Lisa ran her 1/2 mile in 3 minutes and 37 seconds.

Her 1 mile she ran in 10 minutes and 17 seconds.
Melody and I ran the 3 mile in 37 minutes, she was a little disappointed, but I was thrilled. It was alot of fun and the girls got little trophies.

Becky and Chase

My cousin Becky married Chase on May 30.
It was a beautiful ceremony in the same church that my aunt and uncle got married in.
This picture is at the reception.


I couldn't get a picture of the bride walking down the aisle, but here is Katie, Lisa and my dad.


Cindy and Brian at the reception. My picture taking skills were not up to par this day-sorry about the shadows, but they both did look fabulous.



Mike and Sandy at the reception.

Becky and Chase

This was taken at Eisenhaur Park. We walked the trails to get to the tower. From the tower you can see San Antonio. It is really an awesome park with different types of trails.

The "Fur-minator"

Mike bought Frankie a gift- the "Fur-minator".
Yes, think Arnold, I did.


You must have the vacuum ready because the fur flies.



After the fur is "furminated", it is time to be bathed and blown away.
I would have NEVER thought to use the blower to dry the dog.


One happy dog.

Lifegroup at the park

Our Lifegroup went to the park on Sunday. It was a glorious day.



Lisa and Katie "discovered" a tree with beautiful flowers.



Lisa and Caiden playing. The clouds started to build up, then...



it began to POUR. This is Vickie and Eric in the car-waiting for a break in the rain. The break didn't come for about an hour I think. They stayed nice and dry and then left.



Sean, Eric and Mike, making the best of lifegroup in the rain.



Mike, Sean, Eric, Javier, Amanda, Lisa and Katie (wrapped in the towel).

Lisa and Caiden-trying to catch the rain.

Amanda and Caiden

Sean going out in the torrential rain, because this isn't going to stop us from grilling and praising God.

Nothing--will--stop--him--from--bar-b-que--at--the--park.

The rain ended and the fun began for the kids. Nothing like puddles to make one skip for joy.

The worms came out and were in the puddles. The kids thought they were swimming, but actually I think that they were drowning and trying to get to higher ground. This is Lisa's worm she tied (yes, tied) to some green string.

Mud puddles. I am somewhat of a clean freak-so to see my child making mud pies and splashing in the mud, I had to remind myself that she is a kid and it is fun, and what's the worse that can happen here-she will get dirty. She was already dirty, so-thank you God for a fun day.

This is Howard ready to fish. They went fishing and fed the ducks.

One of the boys had his worms in his pocket for fishing. I am so glad that my girls only play in mud puddles and tie worms to strings.

Thank you God for these wonderful people in our lifegroup.

As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. Proverbs 27:17

Recap in pictures-finally

It's blurry, but it is the only "action" picture I have of Simon the Zealot.
Mike was in the pageant this year and loved it. It was great!


Dad came to one of the services.


Can we say lots o' make-up. I hope he didn't get any on Gary's suit.



We took the girls and Faith for the Easter egg hunt at church. I think it was finished in record time. I couldn't even get pictures because the kids picked up their eggs in 5.2 seconds.

Mom spent the night with us and we took her to the sunrise service at 6:30 a.m. It rained as a cool front came in so the service was inside the nice and warm sanctuary.

Usually Katie is the happy one at 6:00 in the morning.

It's called "Beer can chicken" and it is sooooo good. Mike found the recipe and the beer cans go up the chickens...uhm.... well let's just say it makes them sit pretty on the grill.

Grilling!! We had the family over for Easter lunch/dinner.

Playing at the Packery Chanel close to Port Aransas.

The beach really wears the girls out.

We went to the coast and took the "new" kayak. Unfortunately it was too windy, so it stayed on top of the suburban the whole weekend.

Sisterly love. Katie before her musical.

I hope this is not a foreshadowing of college years.

My baby is turning 9 next week. She is a "tween"

I took her to the "Secret Keeper Girls" tour. It is put on by a lady named Dannah Gesh and it is about girls living and dressing to please God. They had 2 fashion shows and Lisa loved it. It was so sweet to get to have a date with her. Mike and Katie had a date at the movies. Katie was so excited to go out with her daddy. Unfortunately she fell asleep at the movie

Where does the time go?